Sea Songs and ShantyTok
- thecantabilecollective
- Mar 29, 2021
- 3 min read
By: Deeba Mehr
Sea shanties have burst in popularity over the past several months, in a move called ‘ShantyTok’. primarily because of TikTok. Though they have enjoyed a spike in interest, they are an old branch of music traceable since at least the mid-1400s, though the precise origins have been lost over time. They are attributed to the days of merchant trading ships, moving goods from one part of the globe to another.
Shanties were primarily sung by sailors, led by a soloist known as the shantyman. The shantyman would lead the song in a call-and-response style, and the rest of the crew would join in on the chorus. A good shantyman was seen as a very valuable asset to the ship’s crew and would often have special privileges, such as lighter physical duties or extra rum. The sailors would be away from home on these ships for months at a time, and it was the shantyman’s responsibility to keep morale high and provide entertainment during these long months.
There were two types of shanty. The Capstan Shanty was an accompaniment to the sailors’ duties that didn’t necessarily require everyone to be working in tandem. These songs were mainly to hold the sailors’ attention and amuse them. The tempo was usually fairly lively to keep the sailors upbeat, and the lyrics often had some innuendo to keep the mood light and the humour going.
A Pulling Shanty was integral to the synchrony of tasks that required all of the sailors to be working together, such as pulling ropes or swinging oars. The rhythm worked to ensure that all of the sailors would push and pull in a coordinated manner. In these shanties, the lyrics were less important, since the main focus was on the beat; the sailors all knew to pull exactly on the last syllable of each line. The Pulling Shanty was essential in making sure that the sailors worked together to efficiently perform their tasks.
By the beginning of the 20th century and the introduction of steamships, sea shanties gradually became less needed since there was no longer the same hard, physical labour that required simultaneity. However, they didn’t fall completely into disuse, since the sailors were still in need of entertainment during the long months on the ship.
Today, sea shanties have been reignited in people’s consciousness because of TikTok. Nathan Evans, a Scottish postman, uploaded videos of himself singing sea shanties at the end of last year and the trend sparked. TikTok’s feature of easily adding on to another video has enabled users to spread the songs. People have added harmonies, basslines, and instrumental accompaniments to pad out the original melody posted by Evans, bringing a sense of unity.
There are a couple of potential reasons as to why sea shanties caught on so quickly. Some believe that the most popular one, called “The Wellerman,” has flourished in part because of its hopeful nature. Its lyrics convey the sailors’ cheerful energy and hope of being supplied with more necessities soon before going home, while other shanties are less positive in nature. It may well be that the current COVID-induced lockdowns have put many young people in a position reminiscent of those which the young sailors were in, centuries ago: confined and often unable to return to their families for the foreseeable future, in risk of running out of necessities and the perpetual fear of illness and death, and being deprived of the social activities needed to cheer people up.
Some famous shanties to consider listening to are “The Wellerman,” “Drunken Sailor,” “Rolling Home,” and “Homeward Bound.” ShantyTok has brought a rich tradition in maritime history to people’s attention, even though some shanties have always been integrated into modern-day culture, as many people in choirs are aware. In all, I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief summary and background of sea shanties and why we’re all hearing about them at the moment!
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